Having safety showers and bunding at your workplace is an investment in the health and safety of your employees. It’s also a legal requirement that is mandated by the government.
While there’s a lot you can do in your workplace to avoid spills – we can’t list them all here – but no matter how safe you are, accidents can still happen and it’s essential to be prepared.
What is a safety shower?
A safety shower on site means that your employees can access an immediate solution if they are affected by a spill or contamination. It offers employees a quick and effective way to wash chemicals off them after a spill, splash, or any sort of contact.
Safety showers are located conveniently in a workplace, so they can be easily accessed. If there’s been contamination after a spill it’s essential that it’s washed off within ten to fifteen seconds, to avoid ongoing or more harmful injury. Safety showers work for cleaning skin but they can also be used to put out fires on or remove chemicals from clothing.
What is bunding?
Bunding is an overarching term for a structure that is built around containers that carry dangerous liquids or chemicals, like drums or tanks, that act as backup incase the container breaks, cracks or is knocked over.
A bund acts as an additional barrier to prevent the spill from spreading too far. They can be in the form or a trench, pit or, more often than not, they are a wall surrounding the container.
Bunding is an insurance policy against serious spills in the workplace. They are the first line of defense if a container carrying dangerous liquids breaks.
What kinds of workplaces need safety showers and bunding?
Both safety showers and bunding are the first lines of defense once a spill has occurred; a safety shower helps employees clean themselves if they’ve been exposed to chemicals and a bund contains a spill. They both offer essential protection against serious hazards after spills and they can used in a variety of workplaces.
Workplaces that should have safety showers onsite include:
- Chemical plants
- Industrial sites
- Laboratories
All kinds of factories and workplaces use bunding, not just places that deal with dangerous liquids. Workplaces that can utilize bunding as part of their safety measures include:
- Storage facilities
- Breweries
- Milk processing plants
- Factories
- Workshops
- Petrol stations
If you’re looking for safety showers or bunding for your work place, Spill Station Australia are passionate about protecting people, the planet and property so get in touch with them today.